Cambodia Attracts Nearly 700,000 Chinese Tourists in 10 Months

Cambodia's tourism sector continues to see a steady increase in tourists, especially Chinese tourists. According to the latest report from the Ministry of Tourism, the number of Chinese tourists to Cambodia increased by 75.2 percent in October 2024, reaching 84,194, indicating a recovery since the pandemic.

For the past 10 months, the number of Chinese tourists visiting Cambodia has increased to 69,1736, representing a 52.5 percent increase compared to the same period in 2023.

The increase is part of a resurgence in Asian travel, with Cambodia positioning itself as an attractive destination for Chinese tourists due to its proximity, rich cultural heritage, and ongoing infrastructure improvements.

The report further stated, “The rapid growth in arrivals is supported by the increase in direct flights between major Chinese cities and Cambodia’s international airports.”

Popular destinations such as Angkor Wat temple, the Royal Palace in Phnom Penh, and the beaches of Sihanoukville have become must-sees for Chinese tourists.

Compared to 2019, the number of Chinese tourists visiting Cambodia from January to October 2024 still showed a significant improvement, although it has not reached its full pre-post pandemic level.

In 2019, Cambodia received 1.5 million Chinese tourists during the same period. This is only about 46 percent of the number of Chinese tourists recorded during the same period before the pandemic.

From January to October 2024, Cambodia received more than 5.3 million international tourists, a 22 percent increase compared to the same period in 2023. However, this number is still only 81.3 percent of the international tourist arrivals seen in the same period in 2019, with the recovery not yet fully returning to pre-pandemic levels.

It is worth noting that last year (2023), the Kingdom of Cambodia received 5.45 million foreign tourists, earning a total revenue of US$3.08 billion.